WASHINGTON, May 14, 2013 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced five appointments to the 15-member National Pork Board. The five appointees will each serve 3-year terms.

"I am pleased that these individuals have agreed to provide their time and expertise," said Vilsack. “I am confident that pork producers and importers will be well served by them.”

According to USDA statistics, in March 2013 there were 68,300 pork operations, representing about 66 million head of pigs. Top pork producing states included Iowa, North Carolina, Minnesota, Illinois and Indiana.

The five appointees were chosen from among eight pork producers nominated by the National Pork Producers Delegate Body during its meeting in Orlando, Florida, in March.

Established under the Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act of 1985, the board develops budgets and awards contracts to carry out a coordinated program designed to strengthen the position of pork in the marketplace.

Research and promotion programs are industry-funded, authorized by Congress, and date back to 1966, when Congress passed the Cotton Research and Promotion Act. Since then, Congress has authorized the establishment of 20 research and promotion boards. They empower farmers and ranchers to leverage their own resources to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight, paid for by industry assessments, which ensures fiscal responsibility, program efficiency and fair treatment of participating stakeholders.